Self-lubricating gear system

• US 5,423,232 A
• Filed: 10/22/1993
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Beer Corporation (Boston Beer Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IMO Industries Incorporated Boston Gear Division
• Inventors: Croto, John F., Miller, Frank S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Application Number:
  US08/141,381
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 74/421 R, 74/461, 74/462, 74/DIG. 10, 241/221, 241/236
• US Class Current: 74/421.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2055/0893 for parallel shaft arrangement of toothed members
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/0806 Involute profile
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0025 with gearing elements rigidly connected to a shaft, e.g. securing gears or pulleys by specially adapted splines, keys or methods
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/041 Coatings or solid lubricants, e.g. antiseize layers or pastes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 74/10 Polymer digest - plastic gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19679 Spur
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19972 form

Abstract

Disclosed is a high strength, self-lubricating, non-metallic gear which requires no lubrication when running with a metallic gear. The gears are secured to their shafts with keyless retaining devices, and the gear set is cut with a non-standard tooth form to provide superior power transmission performance.

Claims

1. A gear system for driving roll stands, comprising:

a. at least one non-metal driver gear;

b. a driven gear;

c. keyless locking means for securing said gears to shafts; and

d. said driver gear having teeth with increased addendum relative to standard gearing, and said driven gear having teeth with addendum decreased in magnitude equal to said increase in addendum of said driver gear, all relative to standard gearing.

2. The gear system of claim 1, wherein said increase in driver gear addendum is two-fold relative to standard gearing, and said driven gear addendum is decreased in magnitude equal to said two-fold increase in addendum of said driver gear.

3. The gear system of claim 1, wherein said driver gear is an all addendum gear and said driven gear is an all dedendum gear.

4. The gear system of claim 1, wherein said driver gear has teeth which have increased base thickness relative to standard gearing.

5. The gear system of claim 1, wherein said driven gear has teeth which have reduced base thickness relative to standard gearing.

6. The gear system of claim 1, wherein said driver gear is comprised of a self-lubricating plastic.

7. The gear system of claim 6, wherein said driver gear is comprised of a self-lubricating plastic selected from the group consisting of nylon 12, lauramid, nyaltron, delrin, phenolic composites and combinations thereof.

8. The gear system of claim 1, wherein said driver gear and said driven gear are spur gears.

9. The gear system of claim 1, wherein said driver gear and said driven gear are helical gears.

10. A gear system for driving roll stands, comprising:

a. a self-lubricating plastic driver gear;

b. a metal driven gear;

c. keyless locking means for securing said gears to shafts; and

d. said driver gear having teeth with increased addendum relative to standard gearing, and said driven gear having teeth with addendum decreased in magnitude equal to said increase in addendum of said driver gear, all relative to standard gearing.

11. The gear system of claim 10, wherein said increase in said plastic driver gear addendum is two-fold relative to standard gearing, and said metal driven gear addendum is decreased in magnitude equal to said two-fold increase in addendum of said driver gear.

12. The gear system of claim 10, wherein said plastic driver gear is an all addendum gear and said metal driven gear is an all dedendum gear.

13. The gear system of claim 10, wherein said driver gear has teeth which have increased base thickness relative to standard gearing, and said driven gear has teeth which have reduced base thickness relative to standard gearing.

14. The gear system of claim 10, wherein said self-lubricating plastic gear is selected from the group consisting of nylon 12, lauramid, nyaltron, delrin, phenolic composites and combinations thereof.

15. The gear system of claim 10, wherein said driver gear and said driven gear are spur gears.

16. The gear system of claim 10, wherein said driver gear and said driven gear are helical gears.

17. A gear system for driving roll stands, comprising:

a. a self-lubricating plastic driver gear;

b. a metal driven gear;

c. a first keyless locking device for securing said driver gear to a first shaft and a second keyless locking device for securing said driven gear to a second shaft;

d. said driver gear having teeth with increased addendum relative to standard gearing, and said driven gear having teeth with addendum decreased in magnitude equal to said increase in addendum of said driver gear, all relative to standard; and

e. said driver gear having teeth with increased base thickness relative to standard gearing, and said driven gear having teeth with reduced base thickness relative to standard gearing.

18. The gear system of claim 17, wherein said self-lubricating plastic driver gear is selected from the group consisting of nylon 12, lauramid, nyaltron, delrin, phenolic composites and combinations thereof.

19. The gear system of claim 17, wherein said driver gear and said driven gear are spur gears.

20. The gear system of claim 17, wherein said driver gear and said driven gear are helical gears.